Uber and Lenskart partner with Government to offer free eye tests and subsidized glasses to drivers

Uber and Lenskart today announced a partnership with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to spread awareness and promote road safety during a government-organized, first-ever Road Safety Month. Both companies will share the costs of offering free eye-tests. They will offer subsidized vision correction and reading glasses worth INR 10 million to driver-partners across pan-India. The drive will begin with the national capital. The companies aim to reduce potential accidents due to faulty vision.

Additionally, Uber also launched an educational video for the driver community. Uber’s drivers who receive free eye-tests and subsidized glasses can visit any Lenskart centre in Delhi NCR for support. This initiative will be further expanded, over the coming few months, to other leading Indian cities.

Over the past few months, to enhance the safety of its riders and drivers, Uber has launched a comprehensive set of safety measures. These include the Go Online Checklist and a mandatory mask policy for both riders and drivers. It has also updated its cancellation policy where both riders and drivers can cancel trips if they don’t feel safe. Complementing these measures, Uber has till date already distributed over 3 million masks. It has also distributed 200,000 bottles of disinfectants and sanitisers to its drivers, free of cost.

From the leaders

The inaugural event was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) also attended the event. He distributed vision correction glasses to 10 top-rated Uber driver-partners. He said, “Deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes are a major and growing public health epidemic. In 2019 alone, more than 1.54 lakh people fatality occurred in road crashes across the country. India needs a collective effort from Central, State and municipal governments, NGOs, corporate citizens and individuals to help develop the foundation of road safety in India and help meet our commitment to reducing death and serious injuries caused due to road accidents. Today, private ride-sharing companies like Uber can play a significant role in bringing this change. Uber’s efforts to offer free eye-checks-ups with Lenskart and sensitize drivers is a step in the right direction.”

Speaking on the partnership, Prabhjeet Singh, President, Uber India SA, said, “At Uber, both rider and driver safety are top priorities. By partnering with MoRTH, we aim to increase awareness about road safety measures, especially among drivers. We truly believe our partnership is another step towards safer mobility, and we are confident that, with the support of our riders, drivers and the city administration, we can help make every trip safer.”

Sharing his views on the importance of this association,​ Peyush Bansal, CEO Lenskart Solutions, India, said, “Lenskart’s Mission for Vision envisages empowering every Indian with perfect vision. Road safety is critically linked with perfect vision. Thus, we are providing free eye tests and subsidized eyeglasses for all Uber drivers; with passionate intent to make roads safer for all. Our strategic partnership with MoRTH and Uber is truly enthusing as this endeavour brings us closer to our dream of Vision for All.”